By Patricia Belyea
We have lots to celebrate! As a small Japanese textile shop, we’ve thrived for 13 years and look forward to many more.
Better yet, we have made precious friendships with quilters and connoisseurs who appreciate the splendor of Japanese textiles.
Thirteen years ago, my husband Michael convinced me that we could actually renovate our grimy basement into a retail space. And so we began.
To kick-off the opening of our new retail space in September 2013, we had a Harvest Moon Party. We invited everyone we knew plus a roster of local design and textile personalities.
COVID changed many things for many people. For Okan Arts, we moved our shop online.
Then our family sold our Seattle home. Michael and I moved east to a log house in the Okanogan Highlands of Washington state. My daughter and partner Victoria moved south to Long Beach CA.
In April 2022, Victoria opened our textile shop in an 1800-sf studio/warehouse in Long Beach. On Year Three in California, we closed our Long Beach space.
Not wanting to give up our connections in Japan, I have continued importing small shipments of vintage textiles to my country home. The fabrics are sold as packs as that’s the easiest way for me to fulfill orders. (I make the packs in my "spare time").
Our shop may look very different from the one Michael and I built in our Seattle basement, but the joy of sharing Japanese textiles hasn’t changed.
Thirteen years later, we’re still having fun, still finding beautiful fabrics, and still making wonderful friends along the way. What a lucky adventure this has been!
Thank you for your love and support!
Do you recognize any of these design and textile leaders from 13 years ago?
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ABOUT US: Okan Arts, a petite family business, is co-owned by mother-daughter duo Patricia Belyea and Victoria Stone. Patricia and Victoria sell Japanese textiles online, host creative quilting experiences, and lead textile tours to Japan and the UK.
FOLLOW OKAN ARTS ON INSTAGRAM @okanarts
